THE last recognised major duathlon event of the year saw Michelle Parsons of Worcester Triathlon club triumph in impressive style.

The aptly named Ballbuster Duathlon is held every Nov-ember at Boxhill in Surrey and is centred around the infamous Boxhill itself with competitors having to run eight miles up and down the hill then climb on to their bikes and ride exactly the same course three times before again running the same eight-mile course.

Not for the fainthearted, the race organised by Human Race, is usually held in less than clement weather. How-ever, this year, the competitors arrived for the 8am start in near perfect conditions with little wind and no rain forecast.

Parsons sensibly started steadily finishing the first undulating run in second place in the female race.

Her time of exactly 50 minutes was almost two minutes slower than Helen Parkinson of North Devon Tri Club but, as the bike section progre-ssed, it was clear that the Vale racer was catching her rival. And, by the second lap, had passed and left her trailing.

By the end of the section, Parsons had extended her lead to an impressive one minute and 20 seconds as she set off on the final run looking fresh.

A tough eight miles later, her lead had been trimmed by just 11 seconds as she completed the event in three hours two minutes and 22 seconds for 32nd place out of the 329 finishers.

Worcester Tri Club's veteran Les Bailey won the 65-69 age category (3.42.20, 205th).